Beautifully bleak new series from Jo Brand and Morwenna Banks about the workings of a children's services department. It hits the ground running in this promising opener with Rose (Brand) stumbling across an old flame on a home visit, Al (Alan Davies), having woman trouble, and Nitin (Himesh Patel) meeting with HR. Isy Suttie, meanwhile, is the temp with a "cheeky sideline" selling hair putty. There's warmth in the comic one-liners, woven into realistic and grim situations.

Damned pulls off feat of being both funny & poignant

Jo Brand's new sitcom Damned stars herself and Alan Davies as overworked employees in a Children's Services department who employ black humour to help them get through each day

Damned preview

I can only imagine the delight Jo Brand felt when Damned was finally given the proper green light. And thank god it did, because the end result proves that Damned has all the ingredients for a long-running comedy.

TV preview: Damned, C4

Not wall-to-wall laughs but then it isn't meant to be because life isn't like that. But this is definitely a comedy. There are a lot more gags here than I've ever come across working in offices, some excellent performances and a cameo from rising star Aisling Bea. Looks good to me.

Jo Brand: most comics on MTW don't like way show works

The writer, comedian and actress says the "pressurised" environment of the BBC Two panel show is not one that she or her fellow comics enjoy.

Why Jo Brand is going back to the NHS

New comedy Damned reveals the dark humour of working in the front lines of healthcare.

How Jo Brand found comedy in world's most thankless job

New comedy Damned reveals the dark humour of working in the front lines of healthcare.

Why studio laughter has no place in modern sitcoms

From Friends to Father Ted, some of the greatest sitcoms of all time have had laughter included on the soundtrack. But audiences have grown more sophisticated - and TV needs to follow their lead.

Women take the comedy throne at Channel 4

Game of Thrones aside, it is the women who catch the eye in Channel 4's forthcoming comedy line-up.

"I'm just going to empty your catheters: who wants to go first?" It's the concluding part of this wonderfully tough comedy, as Kim confronts outsourced care providers Buccaneer 2000, along with a familiar old face from the hospital. Meanwhile, son Ryan returns to live at home to save some cash, although his contribution to the family meal - Chicken Alaska - isn't the best ("Salmonella in the middle bit, carcinogenic on the outside"). There's a showdown with Jackie, too."